Three Performances Of The Weekend - 30/11/20

The big talking point of the weekend was the unbeaten Envoi Allen who was stepping over fences for the second time, this time in Grade One company.

The unbeaten star took his winning run to 11 races having landed his point to point, four bumpers, four hurdle contests and now his two chasing runs.

During his esteemed career he has gone on to land Grade One races such as the Champion Bumper, Ballymore Novices' Hurdle, Royal Bond Novices' Hurdle, Lawlor's Of Naas Novice Hurdle and now the Drinmore Novices' Chase.

The superstar for Cheveley Park Stud has now been slashed for the Marsh Novices' Chase at the festival in March after his win on Sunday, where he swept a side three other runners, with just a flick down the neck to see him pull away in the closing stages.

He is one of most exciting stars in jumps racing at the moment and baring any injury looks set to make it three wins in a row at Cheltenham next year.

The JP McManus owned superstar has been seen seven times now since coming to England under Nicky Henderson and has gone on to land six of her six races, including three Grade One events

Last season she started off in the Gerry Feilden Intermediate Hurdle at Newbury and then on her final start before Cheltenham landing the Grade One Christmas Hurdle at Kempton on Boxing Day.

This set her up perfectly for the Champion Hurdle when going off favourite and under a cool ride by Barry Geraghty went on to land the prestigious event with ease.

Having set the two mile division alight last term she was again the horse to beat on Saturday in the Grade One Fighting Fifth Hurdle and although being easy to back before the off gave an easy as you like performance to win the event eased down.

Taking on the likes of Sceau Royal and Ribble Valley after some madness in the early stages of the race, Epatante with her 7lb allowance only needing a shrug from Aidan Coleman to seal the event at Newcastle.

She is now as short as 7/4 to defend her Champion Hurdle title in March.

Finally, another mare who gave a stand out performance on Sunday was Honeysuckle for Henry De Bromhead with the six year old defending her Hatton's grace title to keep her unbeaten record in tact.

She has established herself as one of the best 2m4f hurdlers in the sport winning all 10 of her races to date, including the her point to point.

During her career she has gone on to land Grade Ones such as the Irish Champion Hurdle, Mares Hurdle at the Cheltenham festival and now back to back renewals of the Fairyhouse feature.

The 7lb weight allowance was the making of her on Sunday and her jockey Rachael Blackmore has said she will definitely come on for that first run of the season.

It seems like all systems lead to the Mares Hurdle at the festival again in March and after her Grade One win at the weekend she can be backed at 5/2 from 7/2.